Vadim Krasnoselsky, the president of Transnistria, said Moscow planned to resume gas supplies to the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. He spoke after a visit to Moscow where officials discussed energy measures amid the region’s ongoing crisis. The remark signaled a shift in the approach to stabilizing heating and power for PMR as winter pressures grow and the energy system faces strain. Reports from regional officials described the move as part of a humanitarian effort to calm the energy crisis that has disrupted daily life in the breakaway region.
Krasnoselsky described the plan as a Pridnestrovian-Russian initiative, with discussions held at the level of Russia’s Ministry of Energy. The arrangement was framed as a coordinated effort to ensure steady supplies for the residents and essential facilities of Transnistria during a period of hardship for many families and businesses reliant on gas for heating and production.
He clarified that Russian gas would not flow to Moldova as a whole, but would be directed to consumers in Transnistria, presented as humanitarian aid. The measure would be used to support households, schools, hospitals, and critical services where heating and cooking needs are most acute, according to officials familiar with the talks.
He added that the supplies would cover the needs of the population, the heating sector, and industrial enterprises in Transnistria. The plan was described as a targeted support package intended to stabilize essential energy services while other disruptions in the broader region are addressed through broader diplomatic channels.
He noted that no fixed date had been set for the start of the humanitarian gas program, and the duration could not be confirmed yet. A launch would begin when the situation allowed, with continuous assessment as conditions on the ground evolve and authorities in the PMR monitor safety and supply levels.
How did the events develop?
At the end of the year, the contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine between Gazprom and Naftogaz expired, and Kyiv chose not to extend it. The disruption in transit routes created new complexities for gas delivery to Transnistria and surrounding regions, according to regional observers and energy monitors. Moldovagaz had previously taken Gazprom gas routed through Ukrainian territory to Transnistria for domestic use and had supplied electricity from the region in return for power from Moldova’s plants, a dynamic that became strained as the crisis intensified and energy flows stalled.
In Moldova, authorities declared a state of emergency in the midst of winter conditions, and by early January deliveries had halted. Transnistria then faced sustained cuts, with industrial output falling and street lighting switched off in many cities after dusk. The energy squeeze affected everyday life, forcing households to seek alternatives and prompting emergency planning by local authorities and aid organizations.
As of early January, natural gas connections to numerous settlements in Transnistria were cut, with multi-storey buildings receiving limited gas to enable basic cooking. The broader energy crisis led to fatalities as some residents attempted to heat homes using unsafe methods, underscoring the dangers of gas heating in poorly prepared environments. Vitaly Ignatiev, head of the Transnistrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that several isolated deaths had occurred as people struggled to keep warm and avoid dangerous fumes, while the exact counts remained unconfirmed by officials.
On the matter of resources, officials warned that gas supplies could run dry within weeks if the situation did not improve, highlighting the severity of the supply constraints and the potential for further interruptions if regional cooperation does not resume. Sergei Obolonik, the PMR Minister of Economic Development, stressed the urgency of maintaining critical gas reserves to meet basic needs and industrial functions during the height of winter.
Politicians’ reaction
A Kremlin spokesperson described the gas situation in Transnistria as a crisis, signaling that Moscow viewed the developments as a serious challenge to regional stability. Dmitry Peskov, the presidential press secretary, noted that Russia has supplied the natural gas that Pridnestrovie has relied on for many years, but he also said that Moscow could not continue to deliver gas under the current political framework shaped by Ukrainian and Moldovan actions.
Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean accused Russian officials of trying to influence Moldovan politics by leaving Transnistria without gas, arguing that the move could be used to destabilize Chisinau and affect the country’s path toward European integration. The assertion added fuel to the debate over energy as a tool in broader political contests between neighboring states.
On January 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu and expressed readiness to supply coal to Chisinau, stressing the importance of creating conditions for the Moldovan people to live in peace, continue their work, and support the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The meeting was framed by officials as a step toward stabilizing the region, while Zelensky warned that Russia appeared to be manipulating energy resources to influence the situation in Transnistria.
One week later the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic stated it would not participate in the Moldova-Ukraine dialogue on coal supply to the republic, insisting on its own track for energy security. Krasnoselsky later noted that Ukraine’s statements formed part of a broader bilateral conversation between Zelensky and Sandu, to which Transnistria did not belong, and that no concrete actions had been taken in this phase of the talks. The implications of these positions remain a focal point for observers watching regional energy politics and security in the days ahead.